IULTCS Congress commences, in spite of Ethiopian state of emergency
The XXXVI IULTCS Congress started in Addis Ababa on November 3 as planned. The event, scheduled to run until November 5, opened with three sessions, including the Heidemann Lecture, delivered on this occasion by Professor Anthony Covington, the emeritus professor of leather science at the University of Northampton.
Immediately before the congress, the Ethiopian government declared a state of emergency for the entire country. The government took this decision owing to an escalation of armed conflict and civil unrest in the regions of Amhara, Afar and Tigray.
After the news broke, the US Department of State said: “We strongly suggest that US citizens seriously reconsider travel to Ethiopia and those who are currently in Ethiopia consider making preparations to leave the country.”
UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, said he was extremely concerned by the escalation of violence in Ethiopia and the declaration of the state of emergency. He reiterated earlier calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a national dialogue to resolve a crisis that, in its current format, began exactly a year ago. “The stability of Ethiopia and the wider region is at stake,” Mr Guterres said.
Many IULTCS Congress delegates have connected to the event remotely, but a number of senior figures in the organisation have travelled to Ethiopia for the event.
IULTCS sources have told World Leather that none of the delegates present at the event in person had mentioned any concerns.
